Make a Difference One Student at a Time
Help a student build confidence, independence, and the skills needed for success.
At Easterseals Learning Academy, our 1:1 Teaching Assistants provide individualized support to a designated student throughout the school day. Working alongside teachers, therapists, behavior support staff, and families, you'll play an important role in helping a student access their education, develop new skills, and achieve meaningful goals. This position offers a unique opportunity to build a supportive relationship with a student while helping them navigate academic, social, behavioral, communication, and daily living challenges in a structured educational environment.
Every day presents opportunities to encourage growth, celebrate progress, and make a lasting impact in a student's life.
About Easterseals Learning Academy
Easterseals Learning Academy is an Illinois State Board of Education-approved non-public therapeutic day school serving students ages 5–21. School districts throughout Central Illinois partner with us to provide specialized educational programming for students whose needs are best served in a therapeutic and highly supportive learning environment. Our goal is to empower students to achieve their highest potential by strengthening academic achievement, communication skills, social-emotional development, and functional life skills that promote greater independence.
What makes our program unique?
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High staff-to-student ratios that allow for individualized attention and meaningful support
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Collaborative teams of educators, therapists, behavior specialists, and support staff
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Specialized classrooms and therapy spaces designed to support learning and development
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Individualized instruction and interventions tailored to each student's strengths and needs
A commitment to helping students build the skills needed to participate more fully in school, home, and community life
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Every member of our team contributes to creating an environment where students feel safe, supported, and empowered to succeed.
See the Impact of Your Work
As a 1:1 Teaching Assistant, you'll become an important part of a student's daily support system.
You'll work closely with one student throughout the school day, helping them engage in classroom activities, build communication and social skills, navigate behavioral challenges, and develop greater independence. You may help a student participate in a classroom activity they previously avoided, successfully communicate a need, develop a self-care skill, or gain confidence in a new environment. While progress may happen one step at a time, the impact can be life-changing.
By providing consistent support and encouragement, you'll help create opportunities for growth that extend far beyond the classroom.
Watch this short video to learn more about the impact Easterseals has in our communities
You'll Thrive in This Role If...
The best 1:1 Teaching Assistants aren't necessarily those with the most experience—they're the ones who can build trust, remain patient through challenges, and celebrate every step of progress. You'll likely enjoy this role if you:
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Value building meaningful relationships and supporting others one-on-one
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Believe every student deserves individualized support to reach their full potential
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Are patient, compassionate, and able to remain calm in challenging situations
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Enjoy helping others gain confidence and independence
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Can provide both encouragement and structure throughout the day
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Are observant and able to recognize small successes and opportunities for growth
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Work well with teachers, therapists, behavior specialists, and families as part of a larger support team
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Are adaptable and comfortable adjusting strategies to meet a student's changing needs
Find purpose in helping someone achieve goals they may not be able to reach on their own
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Many successful 1:1 Teaching Assistants come from backgrounds in education, special education, childcare, behavioral health, psychology, social work, direct support, therapy services, and other helping professions. Equally important is a willingness to learn, a commitment to consistency, and a genuine desire to help students succeed.
Why Work for Easterseals?
At Easterseals, every role contributes to helping children and families reach their fullest potential. As a 1:1 Teaching Assistant, you'll have the opportunity to:
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Make a direct and meaningful impact in a student's life
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Work alongside experienced educators, therapists, and behavior professionals
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Receive training and professional development opportunities
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Gain valuable experience in special education, behavior support, and therapeutic services
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Build skills that can support future careers in education, psychology, counseling, social work, speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and behavior analysis
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Be part of a mission-driven organization dedicated to helping children achieve greater independence and success
The support you provide today can help create opportunities for a student's future tomorrow.
Position Objective: The 1:1 Teaching Assistant is responsible for supporting a designated student with special needs, facilitating their educational development and engagement. This position involves collaborating with the instructional, support, and administrative staff to ensure the student's success.
Job Functions:
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Develop an understanding of each student's unique needs and become familiar with student records.
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Complete paperwork accurately and promptly, including attendance, schedules, requisitions, and other required forms following ESLA procedures.
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Assist the teacher with routine paperwork and preparing materials for classroom activities.
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Establish priorities to meet deadlines, be prepared for class, and adapt to reassignments when needed.
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Conduct lessons or meetings with guidance and training from the teacher.
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Support student learning by answering questions, modeling skills, and participating in classroom discussions.
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Provide re-teaching, guided practice, and assistance with assignments, tests, and tasks to promote skill acquisition.
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Address specific functional or academic needs through modified activities, accommodations, and adaptations.
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Support the development of students' health, self-care, and independence through modeling and prompting.
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Engage in ongoing training and professional development provided by ESLA to improve skills for supporting assigned students.
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Develop competencies in skills necessary to engage students in functional activities throughout the day.
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Implement formal and informal Functional Behavior Assessments (FBA) with fidelity, collecting and submitting data regularly for analysis.
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Make necessary adjustments to student services based on data and guidance from the student support team.
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Formulate a daily schedule for students in collaboration with the classroom teacher, administration, and support specialists to ensure engagement throughout the school day.
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Attend related service therapy sessions and implement strategies throughout the student's day.
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Develop proficiency in students' functional communication and utilize it throughout the day.
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Ensure students' functional communication readiness and utilization.
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Document student activity and performance for a variety of purposes.
Marginal Responsibilities:
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Act as a mandated reporter to ensure student safety.
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Supervise students during lunch, bathroom breaks, and transitions outside of the classroom.
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Perform other assigned duties.
Education/Experience Requirements
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Completion of 60 semester hours of college credit from an accredited institution of higher education or successful completion of the approved paraprofessional examination by the Illinois State Board of Education.
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Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) certification or willingness and ability to complete the required training successfully.
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Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) certification or willingness and ability to complete the required training successfully.
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Preferred experience in special education.
Competency Requirements
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Maintain confidentiality and professionalism.
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Demonstrate punctuality and reliability.
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Communicate effectively, verbally and in writing.
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Collaborate in a team and adapt to change.
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Take initiative and prioritize tasks independently.
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Utilize office equipment, and software, and maintain records.
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Organize and manage resources and files.
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Ability to exercise good judgment and interact with diverse groups.
Physical Requirements
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
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Must have visual ability sufficient to read and complete written correspondence, reports, etc., and computer screen information.
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Frequent use of hands to grasp, handle, or feel.
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Regular standing, walking, sitting, and reaching.
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Occasionally lift and/or carry up to fifty (50) pounds.
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Engages in physical restraint of students, as necessary.
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Ability to drive a personal vehicle to meetings and service sites.
Work Environment
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Primarily operates in school environments with little exposure to excessive noise, dust, and temperature.
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Routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.
Compensation and Benefits
Compensation for this position is expected to all within the range of $21.00 to $22.00 hourly. Actual pay will be determined by experience, skills and internal equity. This range is subject to change in the future. Compensation is just one component of the total rewards package offered for this role. Easterseals Central Illinois offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the well-being of our team members.
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Generous Paid Time Off (PTO)
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Sick and Personal time
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10 Paid Holidays throughout the year
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Event Days: Earn additional PTO hours if you volunteer with us
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All time off is in addition to Thanksgiving Break, Winter Break, Easter/Spring Break, and Summer Break
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Comprehensive Group Health Insurance
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Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
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Flexible Spending Accounts for Medical and Dependent Care
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Long-Term Disability, Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity Coverage
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Life Insurance: Both Employer Paid and Employee Paid options available
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401(K) with employer match
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Professional Development & CEU Allowance
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Easterseals qualifies for the Public Student Loan Forgiveness program
Easterseals Central Illinois is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. Easterseals is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, call 309.686.1177.
